Difference between revisions of "City on Fire/Review"

From The Grindhouse Cinema Database

< City on Fire
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And there’s more—this is a highly populated endeavor. Ineffectual Mayor Dudley (Leslie Nielsen) spins the mounting loss of life, in front of and behind the cameras; Dr. Whitman (Barry Newman) navigates his hospital—it’s shortcomings and the political landscape; and socialite Diana Brockhurst (Susan Clark) when tasked, proves that she can do more than wear high heels and designer fashions.
And there’s more—this is a highly populated endeavor. Ineffectual Mayor Dudley (Leslie Nielsen) spins the mounting loss of life, in front of and behind the cameras; Dr. Whitman (Barry Newman) navigates his hospital—it’s shortcomings and the political landscape; and socialite Diana Brockhurst (Susan Clark) when tasked, proves that she can do more than wear high heels and designer fashions.


[[File:Cityonfir4.jpg]]
[[File:Cityonfir4.jpg]]


Director Alvin Rakoff gives the audience what it has come to see: carnage, mass hysteria, a sea of burning buildings, and the obliteration of a major city. And the screenplay—co-written by the great Jack Hill (Coffy, Foxy Brown) presents all the details, intricacies and semi-plausible situations. Still, there’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of this film: it’s tepid, late-to-market, and feels like a story you’ve already seen.
Director Alvin Rakoff gives the audience what it has come to see: carnage, mass hysteria, a sea of burning buildings, and the obliteration of a major city. And the screenplay—co-written by the great [[Jack Hill]] ([[Coffy]], [[Foxy Brown]]) presents all the details, intricacies and semi-plausible situations. Still, there’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of this film: it’s tepid, late-to-market, and feels like a story you’ve already seen.


The soundtrack, ambient music, and photography are as impressive as is the requisite “all star” cast—both Fonda and Winters, in their younger days, were Academy Award-winners. The opening credit sequence is austere: a kaleidoscope of modern architecture. For the disaster film completist.
The soundtrack, ambient music, and photography are as impressive as is the requisite “all star” cast—both Fonda and Winters, in their younger days, were Academy Award-winners. The opening credit sequence is austere: a kaleidoscope of modern architecture. For the disaster film completist.


{{Josiah}}
{{Josiah}}

Revision as of 14:33, 30 September 2022

The 1970s was the era of the disaster film—Earthquake, The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure—and City on Fire (1979), an American/Canadian entry that covered all the expected fronts, was one of the last films that hoped to cash in. It didn’t.

Cityonfire3.jpg

Disgruntled oil refinery employee Stover (Jonathan Welsch) sets ablaze his former job—acres of oil wells foolishly located in the center of an (unnamed) metropolis. Fire Chief Risley (Henry Fonda) creates the plan to put out the devastating blaze; know it all nurse Andrea (Shelly Winters) helps the burn victims she’s charged with caring for; alcoholic newscaster/personality Maggie Grayson (Ava Gardner), reports on the matter for the city; and her dedicated assistant/lover Jimbo (James Franciscus) keeps her in check.

And there’s more—this is a highly populated endeavor. Ineffectual Mayor Dudley (Leslie Nielsen) spins the mounting loss of life, in front of and behind the cameras; Dr. Whitman (Barry Newman) navigates his hospital—it’s shortcomings and the political landscape; and socialite Diana Brockhurst (Susan Clark) when tasked, proves that she can do more than wear high heels and designer fashions.

Cityonfir4.jpg

Director Alvin Rakoff gives the audience what it has come to see: carnage, mass hysteria, a sea of burning buildings, and the obliteration of a major city. And the screenplay—co-written by the great Jack Hill (Coffy, Foxy Brown) presents all the details, intricacies and semi-plausible situations. Still, there’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of this film: it’s tepid, late-to-market, and feels like a story you’ve already seen.

The soundtrack, ambient music, and photography are as impressive as is the requisite “all star” cast—both Fonda and Winters, in their younger days, were Academy Award-winners. The opening credit sequence is austere: a kaleidoscope of modern architecture. For the disaster film completist.


Jos.jpg
Josiah Howard is the author of four books including Blaxploitation Cinema: The Essential Reference Guide (now in a fourth printing). His writing credits include articles for the American Library of Congress, The New York Times and Readers Digest. A veteran of more than one hundred radio broadcasts, Howard also lectures on cinema and is a frequent guest on entertainment news television. Visit his Official Website.
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